Amalgamator



J. F. CARNE'R May 21, 1940.

AMALGAMATOR Filed Nov. 7, 1938 I/VVEA/ Ton;

Jflmzs F CflR/VER.

' m" TORNEX Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to an amalgamator of the centrifugal type, by means of which certain metals, such as gold, can be separated from rock, sandor other detritus in which they are found.

.55 An object of my invention is to provide a novel centrifugal amalgamator, in which the particles of metal to be recovered are carried in a thin film of water and are caused to strike against a body of mercury, or the like, and are enveloped there- ,ll) in, and retained in the mercury for subsequent removal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel centrifugal amalgamator, in which the metal to be recovered is caused to strike a body of mercury with considerable force, thereby embedding the particles of metal in the mercury.

A further object is to provide a novel centrifugal amalgamator, in which the detritus is effectively removed continuously from the machine,

and the metal and mercury are retained and trapped for subsequent treatment before return to the machine. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel centrifugal amalgamatorof the character ,25 stated, in which the separation of the metal from the detritus is aided'by an electrical current passing through the machine.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and

the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the amalgamator, with parts broken away to show interior con- ,35 struction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the lower pan.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the amalgamating ring.

, Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View of the trap ring.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my amalgamator comprises a stationary hopper l, in which the ore mixed with a quantity of {45 water is placed. The hopper is supported on a stationary frame 2, and this frame also includes a main bearing 3, on which the machine is supported. A vertical shaft 4 is centrally positioned in the machine, and is continuously rotated from 50 a suitable source of power, which extends to the shive or the like 5. On the upper end of the shaft, there is fixedly attached a receiving pan 6, which receives the ore and water from the hopper I.

55 A feed pipe 1 extends downwardly from the receiving pan 6 to distribute the material onto one of the spreader plates. The spreader plates 8 are fixedly attached to the shaft 4, and are arranged below the pan 6 as shown. The outer edges of the plates .8 are sharp-that is, they are tapered upwardly so that the material will move directly off of the periphery of the plates instead of following the edge of the plates downwardly as would bethe case if the edges were rounded. I have illustrated two spreader plates, but it is obvious that as many plates can be used as is necessary. The various plates 8 are spaced apart a suitable distance so as not to interfere with each other. A pipe 1 extends to each of the plates 8, and distributes the material evenly on the upper surface of each plate. The plates revolve with the shaft 4, since they are fixedly attached to the shaft, and centrifugal force will throw the material off of the periphery of each plate.

An amalgamating ring 9 is spaced from the periphery of each of the plates 8, and is substantially in horizontal alignment with these plates. The amalgamating rings 9 are mounted on a sleeve lil, which is concentric with the shaft 4, and is spaced from this shaft. The sleeve ID is rotated from a suitable source of power extending to a shive or the like II. The sleeve ID and the rings 9 rotate at 'a different rate of speed from the plates 8, and preferably slower than the plates.

The rings 9 each include an annular cup I2, which contains a quantity of mercury. Due to centrifugal force, the mercury will be evenly distributed in the cup l2, and will present a substantially verticalsurfaceto the flow of material from the plate 8. The detritus in water will flow over the upper lip 13 of the cup, and thence-into the trap ring M. The trap ring 14 is similar in construction to the amalgamating ring 9that is, it is an annulus, and is adapted to retain mercury and the like which might flow fromthe amalgamating ring 9. The rings Sand are both relatively narrow, the reason for this being that at proper speeds, sand and thelike will not pack in .theringsbut will move continuously over the upper lip of the rings, and thence through the machine.

The trap ring I4 is mounted on a second sleeve I5, which is concentric with the shaft 4, and preferably spaced from this shaft. The sleeve I5 and the trap rings are rotated by the shive Hi from a suitable source of power. The trap rings rotate at a different rate of speed from the amalgamating rings, and preferably slower than the amalgamating rings. The amalgam which might be trapped in the rings I4 is collected in a plurality of tubes 11, and is conducted out of the machine to a filter or the like for reuse. The tube I! might extend either upwardly or downwardly but is here shown as extending down to a lower pan, to be subsequently described. 7

A plurality of fixed baflles I 8 are attached to the frame 2 of the machine, and a baflle is arranged opposite each of the trap rings 4. The baiiles l3 cause the material to flow evenly down the annular wall l9, and thence into a pan 2!]. The pan 20 is also secured to a sleeve 2| concentric with the shaft 4. The sleeve 2| is rotated by the shive 22 from a suitable source of power. The Dan 20 rotates at a different rate of speed than either the shaft 4, the amalgamating rings, or the trap rings. The pan 2!] is provided with a lip 23, over which the material flows into an annular sump 24. On the periphery of the pan 20, I provide an amalgamating plate 25, over which a plurality of screens 26 are placed.

A deflecting ring 21 spaced from the bottom of the pan 20 directs the material and amalgam to the plate so that any metal which might be lost in the first stages of the machine can be recovered before the material spills into the sump. To aid in the recovery of the metal, an electrical current is fed onto the shaft 4 through a ring 28, and the frame of the machine is grounded. Thus, the current will flow with the water and material along the spreader plates 8, and thence into the mercury in the rings 9 or I4. The fine particles of gold or the like will thus be assisted in their movement outwardly in the machine, and will also cause this gold to more effectively impinge upon the mercury in the amalgamating rings, and will cause it to adhere more tenaciously to the mercury.

The various sleeves surrounding the shaft 4 are insulated from the shaft substantially as shown. The thin film of water carrying the metal, which is thrown off of the periphery of the plates 8, acts as a conductor of electricity from the plates to the mercury, thus assisting in the flow of the metal particles into the mercury. The same electrical action occurs in moving from the rings l4 to the panic plates l8, and also from the lower pan 2!] to the sump 24.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An amalgamator comprising a substantially horizontal plate, means continuously rotating the plate, an amalgamating ring spaced from the plate, said ring including a substantially vertical wall comprising an amalgam retaining means on the ring, the amalgam spreading over said wall during rotation of the ring means to separately rotate said ring, the amalgam on the wall being in material from the rings, and means to separately rotate said bottom pan.

2. An amalgamator comprising a horizontal plate, means continuously rotating said plate, a hopper above the plate whereby material is fed onto said plate, an amalgamating ring spaced from the plate, said ring including a substantially vertical wall comprising a mercury retaining means on the amalgamating ring, the mercury spreading over said Wall during rotation of the ring means to separately rotate the amalgamating ring, the amalgam on the wallbeinginthepath of material thrown from the plate, a trap ring, means separately driving the trap ring, amalgam retaining means on the trap ring, and an amalgam discharge on the trap ring.

3. An amalgamator comprising ahorizontal plate, means continuously rotating said plate, a hopper above the plate whereby material is fed onto said plate, an amalgamating ring spaced from the plate, said ring including a substantially vertical wall comprising a mercury retaining means on the amalgamating ring, the amalgam spreading over said wall during rotation of the ring means to separately rotate the amalgamating ring, the amalgamon the wall being in the path of material thrown from the plate, a trap ring, means separately driving the trap ring, amalgam retaining means on the trap ring, an amalgam discharge on the trap ring, a bottom pan below said rings, separate drive means for the bottom pan, and an amalgamating plate on the outer wall of the bottom pan.

4. An amalgamator comprising a vertical shaft, a horizontal plate fixedly mounted on the shaft, means to rotate the shaft, a hopper above the plate, a material receiving pan below the hopper, said pan being mounted-on the shaft, and discharge pipes depending from the pan and extending to the plate, an amalgamating ring spaced from the periphery of the plate, and in horizontal alignment therewith, said ring including a substantially vertical wall comprising a mercury retaining means on the amalgamating ring, the amalgam spreading over said wall during rotation of the ring and means to separately rotate the ring, the amalgam on the wall being in the path of material thrown from the plate.

5. An amalgamator comprising a vertical shaft, a horizontal plate fixedly mounted on the shaft, means to rotate the shaft, a hopper above the plate, a material receiving pan below the hopper, said pan being mounted on the shaft, and discharge pipes depending from the pan and extending to the plate, an amalgamating ring spaced from the periphery of the plate, and in horizontal alignment therewith, said ring including a substantially vertical wall comprising a mercury retaining means on the amalgamating ring, the amalgam spreading over said wall during rotation of the ring means to separately rotate the ring, the mercury on the wall being in the path of material thrown from the plate, a bottom pan arranged below the amalgamating ring, means to separately rotate the bottom pan, and an amalgamating plate on the outer wall of thev bottom pan.

JAMES F. GARNER. 

